Mitigation of atmospheric phase delay effects in SAR interferometry for volcanic activity monotoring using MODIS data and WRF model

The atmospheric phase delay when microwave propagates in troposphere can be severe and be misinterpreted as a surface deformation in differential SAR interferometry (DInSAR). The atmospheric phase delay errors are main difficulties in measuring the deformation caused by volcanic activities. In order to minimize the effects of atmospheric water vapor we calculated mesoscale atmospheric phase delay effects in DInSAR from the various atmospheric data such as WRF model, MODIS products, and radiosonde data. In addition, time-series analysis with atmospheric correction technique was carried out. We successfully minimize the atmospheric phase delay effects, misinterpreted as deformation, and measured the ground motion on the Shinmoedake volcano.